Sociology Level 3

Unit one focuses on the three main approaches to Sociology: The symbolic interactionist perspective, the functionalist perspective and the conflict perspective. You’ll look at theory in sociology, as well as ontology, epistemology and ethics. Finally, you’ll consider both micro-sociology and macro-sociology.

In the second unit, you’ll delve into the concept of the self, the individual and society, and how the self is socialised. You’ll look at primary and secondary socialisation, as well as criticisms of socialisation theory. Also, consider social order, social agency and identity, and identity in relation to language and how we see others. Finally, you’ll learn just what is a group, exploring the ever-changing nature of the social world.

In unit three, you’ll familiarise yourself with Marxism and German philosopher, Karl Marx. Once you’ve grasped the basis of Marxism, you’ll move onto philosophers Fredrich Nietzsche and Michael Foucault. In relation to the Foucault, you’ll consider ideas of knowledge and power, sexuality, madness and civilisation. Finally, we’ll break down the concepts of Structuralism, Post-Structuralism, Modernism and Post-Modernism.

The fourth unit will develop your understanding of the social sphere we live in and the meaning we give to it. You’ll discover the wheel of sociology and find out how socialisation relates to how we learn and adapt settings we live. Finally, you’ll also look at social psychological and psychosocial approaches to the social world.

Moving on, you’ll focus on social issues such as racism, inequality, class, gender, hooliganism, and poverty, and recognise their impact the have on society. You’ll cover topics like overt racism, the apartheid system in South Africa, and sexism and harassment. You’ll also look at theories on inequality and Irving Janis’ concept of Groupthink.

Next, you’ll examine three key theories in sociology: feminist theory, queer theory and critical race theory. You’ll cover topics such as Marxist, liberal and post-modern feminism, consider the heterosexual lens, and discover how race theorists challenged legal systems.

In unit seven, you’ll start by understanding just what crime and deviance is in society. You’ll then examine topics on social class and elite crime, as well as historical biological thoughts on crime and deviance. Other topics you’ll explore include the nature-nurture debate, as well as the effects of crime on gender and ethnicity. Finally, you’ll look at the halo effect and restorative justice.

In the eighth unit, you’ll consider behaviour and the role of group dynamics, looking at areas such as group size and leadership. As you progress, you’ll look at bystander apathy and conformity, specifically the experiments of Milgram and Zimbardo.

The final unit will break down the role of the family, exploring various definitions of family. You’ll also explore changes in marriage, namely the idea of marriage. As you progress, you’ll cover family diversity, whether the nuclear family still exists, globalisation and the nation state. Finally, you’ll learn about wealth inequality.